Chapter 17

Hermione returned to the castle to find Draco after her weird encounter with James. She wanted to tell him all about the things James said before he could beat her to the punch. She found Malfoy in the library, with a girl. She stopped walking and examined them for a second. The girl was very pretty. Her hair was blonde and sleek and perfect. She was wearing a red dress that fitted her tight body and showed off her cleavage. Her hand was on Draco's arm and she was smiling at him. Hermione frowned and walked towards them. The girl saw her and quickly drew away from Draco.
"I'm sorry, your grace." The girl made a bow before stalking off.
"There she is." Draco smiled, wrapping his arms around Hermione. He tried to kiss her but she turned her cheek.
"Who was that?" she asked. Draco smirked.
"Jealous?" he asked, smiling.
"No, just wondering who she was." Hermione wriggled herself out of his arms.
"That's Lola, she's just a girl that I apparently had sex with before we came here." He explained. She corked an eyebrow.
"Before we came here?" she repeated.
"Yes, Hermione, there is nothing going on" he smiled as he grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.
"Then why was she here?" she asked.
"She just wanted to congratulate me on our wedding. Can I get my kiss now?" he shook her a little. Hermione smiled softly and pressed her lips on his. "Did you need me for something?" he asked.
"What?" she frowned again.
"You came looking for me for a reason, right?" he asked.
"Oh, no, I just wanted to see how your meetings went." She started.
"So you missed me?" he smiled, looking hopeful.
"Maybe a little." He smirked and pressed kisses all over her face.
"Well, I've missed you too" he whispered to her.
"And my meetings went well, I learned a lot" he continued.
"That's great, Draco!" she smiled.
"So how about your day?" Hermione started fidgeting.
"Oh, it was fine, I spent some time with Rogue but he was behaving like a little bitch" she explained.
"Ah, well, he's a boy and we do tend to act like little bitches." he smiled. Hermione managed a little smile. She felt awfully guilty about not telling him about James. But she didn't like the feeling that Lola girl was giving her. He let go of her hand and took a step back. He reached his hand out to her.
"Can I walk you to dinner?" he asked She smiled and placed her hand inside his.

After they walked to dinner in silence, they joined the rest of the royal family for dinner. As they were walking back, Draco decided that he needed to get Hermione's attention.
"Hey, Granger, should I go back to my own room or do you want to sleep together?" he smirked.
"You don't want to sleep together?" she asked.
"No, I much rather sleep alone than with a beautiful naked girl in my bed." Sarcasm dripped from his words as he spoke. She turned to him.
"Oh, okay" she simply answered.
"Granger, what is going on with you?" he stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"What? There is nothing going on" she responded, looking slightly taken aback.
"You are acting odd" he frowned.
"I'm not, I'm just tired." She smiled. "So take me to bed?" she asked, pressing a kiss on his cheek.
"You don't need to ask me twice" he smirked before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her to their chambers.

When Hermione woke up the next morning, Draco was no longer next to her. His side of the bed was already cold, so he must have left a while ago. She shivered at the cold and wrapped her blankets around her body. Why would he leave in the morning without telling her? There was a knock on her door not long after that.
"Your grace, Lord McCarthy from Argon is here to see you" a servant announced. Hermione rose from her bed and wrapped herself in a black silk robe.
"Send him in" she answered and the old man stood before her mere seconds later.
"My queen, I need to speak to you about Argon, it's urgent and of the topmost secrecy." The man started. Hermione gestured to the servants to leave her and as soon as the door closed, the man started talking.
"We, at Argon, believe that there is an assassin here at English court." Hermione frowned.
"An assassin? Here?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, my lady, we believe he was one of the men loyal to lord Davenport." McCarthy continued.
"Lord Davenport is dead" Hermione stated.
"He is, but his rebellion didn't die with him, there are still those that seek to remove you from the throne." Hermione shook her head.
"They didn't want to remove me from the throne, they wanted to remove Draco." She corrected.
"Yes, initially, but now that you are married, the situation has changed. Your Grace, I advise caution, the spy is likely someone close to you or prince Draco as the information we've intercepted was quite accurate." The man continued. Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"I want this rebellion stopped. I want every able man in our kingsguard to look for traitors." She hissed.
"You are the person I want ruling Argon in my stead, Lord McCarthy. I know you'll serve with loyalty." She stated. The man took a bow and smiled broadly.
"Return to Argon immediately, and I expect weekly updates on how the search is going. Meanwhile I'll take measures into my own hands here." She decided. The man took a bow and showed himself out. One of the servants entered .
"I need you to find Draco for me, and send him here. Tell him it's urgent." She ordered. The servant did as she was told. While she was waiting for Draco, Hermione got dressed. Her ladiesmaids assisted her. They were strapping her into the corset that finished her look. The dress was beautiful and silky, flowing to the floor like waves upon a beach.
"I'm kinda into breathing, could you lighten up on the corset?" she asked her maids. She shrieked when instead of an answer someone pressed his lips to her neck. She twirled around and slapped whomever it was.
"Oi, hold on you lunatic!" Draco laughed.
"Draco! Don't scare me like that, I almost had a heart attack." She yelled. He held up his hands in defeat.
"I'm sorry" he smiled.
"No, you're not. Anyways, there is something we need to talk about." She waved his apologies away.
"Alright, let's hear it." Hermione started telling Draco everything that lord McCarthy had told him.
"What?!" Draco yelled.
"Granger, you know what this means, don't you? It's definitely James." He stated.
"What? Why would it be James? He's had plenty of chances to kill me, and he hasn't done anything wrong." She refuted.
"Yet" he added.
"Draco" she sighed.
"What? He's been out to tear us apart from the start!" he continued yelling.
"Yeah, but there is a difference between trying to get between a couple and trying to kill someone! If we're going down that road, why not Lola? She could be the assassin too, you know" she yelled back.
"Oh come on, the girl couldn't hurt a fly" Draco threw his hands up.
"You don't know her." She hissed.
"And you don't' know James." He threw back. They both were panting and they remained silent for a couple of minutes.
"Just promise me you'll be careful." Draco finally whispered. Hermione looked up at him.
"I will be if you are" she responded.
"Have you met me? No one can hurt me, I'm invincible." He smiled. Hermione shook her head smiling.
"Prat." He laughed before wrapping her in his arms and pressing a kiss to her lips. Little did they know, that from behind the door, someone was listening to their every word.